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HEAD.

SOUND RECORD AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SAME.

APPLICATIDN FILED IUNE I7, 1915.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

IN VEN TOR.

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:HUBERT HEAD, 0I? NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR '.IO THE AEOILIAN COll/IPAN'IZ", Il. COII/P- ItATIUN UlE CONNECTICU'I.

SUIUNIU-IIJECORD ANI) PROCESS FR MAKING SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

ratentea new.. ie, iam.

application med June 17,1915. sel-iai no. aliene.

To all tti/wm z'z may concern.' l

Be it known that I, ltonnn'r HEAD, a eitlzen ot the llnited States, residing at New York, in the county and State ot N ew York, have invented certain new and uset'ul Improve ments in Sound-Records and Processes tor llvllakimg1 Same, oi which the following is a specification.

rllhe present invention relates to improvements in the art of making phonograph records, the tentures and advantages ot which will hereinafter appear.

I n the accom panying drawing Figure I is a diagrammatic.view representing' the steps otl the method comprising' one embodiment ot' the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view representinpr the steps comprising another embodiment ot' the invention.

rl`he invention comprises tracing', cutting or otherwise forming a sound-groove or record in a material like clay which sets or which hardens on drying or baking. 'lhus I take material like the linest modeling clay so that the particles shall be as tine as possible to minimize any grain or roughness in the record. 'lhis material kneaded to the right consistency with water or other suitable liquid is formed into a circular tablet similar to the usual wax or Wax-like sound recording tablet. The sound-groove is traced, out. or engraved in the surface ot' this soft clay tablet in analogous fashion Vand by similar means to the methods now employed to form wax soi'ind-records. Care is taken, however, that the clay-tablet is relatively dried out so that the record groove can be the more readily cut er otherwise formed in it; also so that When formed the sides orbottom of the groove will not sag or get out of shape.

Instead of clay, plaster of Paris or a cement may be used for the tablet of a consistency and condition just about to set, the sound groove 'being formed in its surface just prior to the setting' or hardening of the material. Similarly other analogously Work ing materials may be employed.y

I then take the clay sound-record and dr;7 it further or even bake it or fire it like pottery to harden and render it more permanent.

I then may make a metal casting of its tace which I may then use to press the commercial records like the so-called matrix is used in the `ordinary soundrecord making process as represented in Fig. l. The metal Yemployed may be steel, cast-iron, preferably ot the white/variety so that the texture of the matrix may be as smooth and grainless as possible, or some alloy ot' these to improve the tlow ot the. metal and the quality ot the lasting, or seme softer metal may be used having' the advantage ot' casting' at a lower vtemperature. In any event, the resulting matrix may or may not as desired, be electrolytieally faced with a.l film ot nickel for its protection from the hot record-material when pressingthe records.

(lt course, my idea includes the use et' any moldingoperation and materials such as will ze'ive as perfect as possible a reproduction in the matrix 'ot the sound-grooves in the orig'- inal record ot clay or equivalent materials. For example pressure may be employed during; the molding' operation to torce the metal into all the lilies ot' the record.

` Instead ogt' molding the matrix trom the original record of clay or equivalent materials, I may use it, after it has become set or suitably hardened or baked, in a pantograph and thereby eut from it, used as a guide, the same, record in another tablet, which may consist ot' a wax or wax-like material from which the commercial records can 'be made as usually by electrotyping and pressing; or said pantographed record may consist of a metal such as sott steekwhich nlay then be hardened. A thin nickel or steel plate or roller may then be pressed or rolled into the hardened grooves to form the reverse, that is a matrix, which then, after being harlened if desired, may be backed up or otherwise treated to convert itinto a practical matrix for pressing the linished reeords,the method as thus carried out being represented in Fig. 2.

rIhe foregoing is applicable to the production both ot the so-called hill and dale and the lateral or zigzag records. By clay-like in the claims I include clay, plaster of Paris and the like. Of course changes and modifications might be made in the above that are nevertheless Within the spiritv of this inventive disclosure and these I mean to cover under the doctrine of equivalents by the tollowing claims. Further, certain steps might be used Without the others, or in di'erent order or arrangement, 0r in connection With other er equivalent steps or means.

What I claim is: l. The process which comprises originally cutting a sound' groove in a blank of claylike material While such material is rela- 5 tively soft, and then setting said material t0 harden it. A

2. The process which comprises originally recording a sound groove in a clay-like material While such material is plastic, and

10 then drying said material.

3. The process of recording sound Which comprises originally recording the sound in the form of a groove in a clay-like material While snch material is relatively soft? and then baking said materiaL 4. The process which comprises recording a Sound groove in a clay-like material while such material is relatively soft, then setting said material to harden it, and iinally cast- -ing therefrom a matrix for the production of .commercial records.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 16th day of June, 1915.

ROBERT HEAD. 

